Collection Folder with Role-Based Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional online storage systems lack efficient mechanisms for collectors to manage file submissions from multiple submitters without exposing each submitter's files to others, leading to increased overhead and security concerns.

Innovation Solution

A content management system that allows collectors to create a centralized collection folder with limited submitter rights, enabling customization of file requests, malicious content detection, plagiarism scanning, facial/object recognition, and administrator controls to manage file submissions and privileges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a teacher provides a single online storage folder with access to all students, then file collection is simplified, but students can access each other's submissions which creates security and privacy issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile collection managementVSAvoidsubmission security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements role-based access control where different user roles (collector, submitter, viewer) have different permission levels. Submitters can only view their own submissions while collectors have full access. This local differentiation of access rights resolves the contradiction by allowing centralized folder management while preventing unauthorized access to other users' files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a teacher creates a separate folder for each student, then submission security is maintained, but administrative overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubmission securityVSAvoidfolder management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple student submissions into a single centralized collection folder while maintaining individual submission visibility through role-based permissions. Instead of creating separate physical folders for each student, the system combines all submissions in one location and uses access control mechanisms to ensure security, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If submitters are given full access to the collection folder, then ease of operation is improved, but unauthorized access to other submissions occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolder accessVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary access control layer between submitters and the collection folder contents. Role-based permissions act as intermediaries that allow submitters to access the folder for uploading files while blocking access to other users' submissions. This intermediary mechanism enables ease of operation for legitimate actions while preventing harmful unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3284031B1Collection folder for collecting file submissions

Publication Date: 2023.08.02 DROPBOX INC

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AI summary

A content management system for collecting files from one or more submitters in a collection folder. A collector, who generates the collection folder, can invite one or more submitters to submit one or more files to the collection folder. The one or more submitters have limited rights to the collection folder. The limited rights can include uploading rights and prohibiting a submitter from viewing files that other submitters associated with the collection folder submitted. Thus, the collection folder is able to store files from the one or more submitters, but prevent them from viewing other's submissions.